US expands list of Cuban entities under sanctions

March 11, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is adding five sub-entities owned by the Cuban military to a list of operations under U.S. sanctions because they allegedly benefit the Cuban military, intelligence, and security services or personnel at the expense of the Cuban people.

The State Department said it will make the additions Tuesday because of a Feb. 24 constitutional referendum which it calls “undemocratic”. It also referred to the support given by Cuban security forces to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

The additions come a week after the Trump administration announced that it is tightening the six-decade trade embargo on Cuba by allowing lawsuits against some Cuban companies using properties confiscated after its 1959 revolution, though the impact appears to be largely symbolic.